Tensions are growing at Our Lady of Guadalupe Parish in north Denver, said churchgoers who attended Friday night services marred by vandalism of a church mural depicting the Blessed Virgin.

The Spanish word “basta,” which means “enough,” was spraypainted across the 1976 artwork.

Other small clashes Friday night added to a deepening well of resentment within the Spanish- speaking congregation, said several in attendance.

The painting of the Virgin Mary had been the backdrop to the altar for more than 30 years. But in 2009, Pastor Benito Hernandez built a wall a few feet in front of the mural to hide it from view during Mass.

Hernandez told parishioners the large image of Mary was distracting some from worship of her divine son, Jesus.

Hernandez has many loyal supporters. But the mural also has many devotees, including 30 to 40 who organized as the Faithful United to work for removal of the wall and restoration of the damaged painting.

Archdiocese officials have said it’s the decision of the pastor and parish leaders whether the wall stays or goes.

However, Faithful United members said the visiting head of Hernandez’s clerical order, Theatine Superior General Valentin Arteaga, assured them in a private meeting Friday afternoon that, if they enter new negotiations with Hernandez, the wall should and would come down. Arteaga then left for his return flight to Rome.

No one can quantify how many of the 4,000 people who attend weekend Mass at Our Lady of Guadalupe want to keep the wall or keep the mural.

Parishioners arriving Friday night at the church at 1209 W. 36th Ave. were greeted by the sight of a Denver police officer investigating the vandalism.

Strained encounters between opposing groups within the church have created what Faithful United organizer Mike Wilzoch described as “a poisonous atmosphere.”

Faithful United member Donna Lucero tried to hold a reception after Mass for guests commemorating the death of her daughter Anita 20 years ago in a plane crash, but the parish manager ushered them out of the church and turned out the lights.

“I’m still in shock,” Lucero said. “I was really embarrassed; it got so ugly.”

Wilzoch said some of Hernandez’s supporters were wearing “Save the Altar” stickers. Some in his group were handing out “IOU” forms on which people could commit to making a specific dollar donation once the wall comes down.

The priest at Friday night’s service, the Rev. Miguel Guzman, asked those at Mass for a show of hands as to why they were there: Was it to celebrate the Feast of the Sacred Heart of Jesus, or to honor Anita Lucero, or to circulate the IOUs? he asked.

He told people if they were circulating the IOUs they had to leave, said Martha Urioste.

“I found the whole thing very strange,” Urioste said.

Denver police spokesman Detective John White said the department received a report at 6:11 p.m. Friday from the parish about damage to the mural. White said his information indicated the damage had occurred three to five days earlier.

Hernandez and other parish officials have not returned calls from the Post. However, Hernandez told Catholic Archdiocese of Denver spokeswoman Jeanette DeMelo that the mural was “fine” when he passed through the area on his way to say Mass Friday morning. DeMelo later said she might have misunderstood him because he doesn’t seem to know when the vandalism occurred.

“The fact is that no one knew anything was wrong with the mural until Friday afternoon, and that’s when they called police,” DeMelo said.

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